V. City Report

Chennai (India)

Mr. A. Swaminathan
Chief Engineer
Engineering and General Department Chennai Corporation

The Chennai area is very flat, and features two rivers. Chennai is divided into ten zones.

Representatives of the East India Company were the first settlers. It is the fourth largest city in India, and the 24th largest city in the world. Major industries are petroleum, fertilizers and chemicals.

The state is headed by a chief minister, and the city is headed by the mayor. There is also a city assembly, headed by the people. Revenue sources for the government include taxes, fee, and grants. There is a stamp duty, an entertainment tax, and a state finance commission tax. The city can also levy a property tax and a profession tax.

The total annual revenue for the city is $102 million (U.S.). Annual expenditures are $101 million (U.S.).

The city is drafting a master plan that is almost complete. It has been prepared with assistance from the World Bank. About 50 percent of the sewage system called for in the master plan is now in place. The wastewater and stormwater sewage systems are separate. About 50 percent of the sewage is being treated.

Water supply is from a lake and from underground sources.

Challenges facing the city include a possible failure of the arrival of annual monsoons, as well as no new reservoirs of water since 1944.

One solution that could ease some of these problems is rainwater harvesting. Every structure should have a rainwater harvesting facility.

To overcome the water scarcity it has been made mandatory for every structure(commercial & residential)to recharge the ground water by providing rain water harvesting facility

It is noted that gender is associated with water issues. Women are more affected than men by water problems.